The zealous Christian taking heavenThe zealovs Christian taking heaven

1. It may be thou hadst formerly more affection, but less judgement, less experience, less spiritualness in thy prayers. It may be now thou art more sound in knowledge, thou makest a more inward progress in holiness; thou canst now make a more inward prayer to God, thou hast now more inward communion with God. Now if this be so, thou hast ⟨p. 75⟩no cause to be discouraged. God loves a judicious prayer, as well as a large and affectionate prayer; you see what you want one way, you make up another way. A young carpenter gives more blows, and makes more chips, but an old and experienced workman doth the most and the best work. A young Musician can play more quickly and nimbly upon an instrument, but an old Musician hath more skill.

1. It may be thou hadst formerly more affection, but lesse judgement, lesse experience, lesse spiritualnesse in thy prayers. It may be now thou art more sound in knowledge, thou makest a more inward progresse in holinesse; thou canst now make a more inward prayer to God, thou hast now more inward communion with God. Now if this be so, thou hast ⟨p. 75⟩no cause to be discouraged. God loves a judicious prayer, as well as a large and affectionate prayer; you see what you want one way, you make up another way. A young carpenter gives more blowes, and makes more chips, but an old and experienced workman doth the most and the best worke. A young Musitian can play more quickly and nimbly upon an instrument, but an old Musitian hath more skill.

2. It may be when thou hadst more affections in prayer, thou hadst more sin in prayer, more pride in thy gifts, more dependence upon thy duties, more censoriousness of others, and many other corruptions that did accompany thy prayers, and thy affectionateness in them. Now though thou hast less affections, yet those other corruptions are in great part eaten out.